Easy Dinner For Lazy People

Perhaps dinner is the most difficult decision of the day. Reason is simple enough. After full day of work, the last thing you want to do is stand by the stove. And cook bhindi. On the other hand, there is always last week’s left over which even your deepest, coolest fridge can’t keep fresh for another day. So pop it goes in the microwave.

But things need not be so drastic. Some studies say cooking has a therapeutic effect. While therapy through cooking is a collateral gain, fresh food is a direct benefit. And we think if there is one thing we must all invest our time in, besides brushing our teeth, then it’s cooking. At least four times a week, if not daily. And if time is of constraint, then we give below ten dishes which you can make in half hour or less. And we’re telling you how to do it the healthy way.

1. Burrito

The Mexican wrap. It’s easy to make and a whole meal. There are two ways in which you can make a burrito. One, dripping with cheese sauce and mayo, and second, the healthy way. The good thing is you can go the healthy way, and still retain the great taste. The recipe here, contributed by Pallavi Gupta, has got a fit foodie recipe score of 57. What’s that mean? Saffola (yes, the food oil company) gives a health score to each recipe. And while a normal Burrito has a low score of 39/100, this Saffola approved recipe scores 57. Go eat!

2. Nachos

Now, nachos don’t need introduction. You really can’t make nachos a health food (unless you don’t put cheese in it, in which case it won’t be nachos). But we’re hedging the exposure here. By putting in right kind of veggies, going slow on sour cream and using reduced fat cheese, nachos can be tamed! Here is a saffola fit food recipe.

3. Green Pizza

We kid you not. Healthy pizza is a reality. This one has all the fancy sounding things, whole wheat flour, caramelized onions, 2 tablespoons activated yeast, and it comes out just fine in 20 mins to serve four. This is Italy in all its glory. And Saffola thinks it’s 75% healthier than your regular pizza. Seriously, time to #gogreen.

4. Hakka Noodle

And from Italy, we go to China. Because, let’s accept it, pizza and noodles no more belong just to Italy and China, just like English no more belongs to England. Every country, every culture has adopted these two and brought them up as per their house rules. And here is how house of Saffola suggests you should do it. Retain the taste and subtract the cholesterol. It’s quite easy. Cut, soak, eat.

5. Paneer Wrap

In case you're not interested in the Mexican roll, here is the rocking, evergreen Indian version for you. No matter who you are, you cannot not like THE paneer roll. Its biggest upside is how quickly you can make it. As per this recipe, it takes all of ten minutes. And if you’re fast, maybe you’ll get done making it even before the Game of Thrones title track is over. Of course, the next natural question is, why anybody hasn’t shown this to Bade Miya yet.

6. Red Sauce Pasta

And we have come to pasta, shasta. Remember the long lines infront of a live counter at any Indian wedding. And sweaty chefs in tall white caps struggling to keep up with ravenous appetites of aunties, uncles and apron-tugging children. We love our pasta. And this 20 minute recipe is here to tell you how to make it the right way with wheat penne and masala oats peppy tomato.

7. White Sauce Pasta

So the jury is still out between white and red. Even as Aglio Olio and Pesto are trying to make their presence felt, the battle is clearly between Arrabbiata (red) and Alfredo (white). But you don’t need to worry. You can try both (on different days ofcourse, unless you’re infront of a live counter at a wedding). And while white sauce pasta is not really a rockstar performer in the healthy food arena, saffola has given this awesome recipe which bounces the health score by 130% over regular white pasta. Possible to make in 20 mins or less. You ought to check it out

8. This Awesome Sandwich

You know a sandwich is awesome when it has a rocket in it. And this Roasted Mushrooms and Balsamic Onion with Walnuts, Rocket and Feta might just be the coolest dude of the sandwich world. I would do this any day over a kakdi, tamatar sandwich. In case you’re wondering how to put a rocket in a sandwich, here it is, the recipe. You’re welcome :).

9. Panini

A French baguette stuffed with mushroom, egg plant, bell pepper and zucchini, and you know you're not having your regular dinner. In case you're up for an experiment in the kitchen, here is how it's made.

10. Finally, Good Old Pizza on Toast

Quite like pizza slice you get in Europe, this one ought to be a classic. Takes 30 mins to make, so maybe on a day you aren't feeling that lazy. But an extra 10 mins might make all the difference. This is how we make it. Follow in out footsteps, and you'll do just fine.